The idea emerged once again when I worked with Br. Joe, the Vocation Director of the Province last Summer Vocation Workshop 2007. But by this time, it came out not just an idea but also with a sense of urgency and inspiration to…..”Just do it.”

And more encouragement was felt when during the “bonding session” with Danny Sabino and Br. Larry last month in the residence of Philip Diaz, the conversation became more intense and intimate as we shared the experiences we have had during our BMC years…. That was 20 years ago…. And it was twenty years ago when I first met them. And during the sharing, one could sense the passion in the experience and that “longing for more.”

 

That sense of “longing for more” made this project into a reality…. for this was the shared experience of many BMCians/SMCians I had journeyed with in the past, as articulated by Dasoy and Philip. Marcellink hopefully links us back to the person, Marcellin and to his vision, mission, passion and models. Marcellink hopefully keeps alive the Marist Spirit that we long for.

 

Just to share another experience with you…. While Br. George and I were waiting for the train in San Pietro Station in Rome, five Filipino seamen came to us and one of them called out: “Brother!”, then followed it up with a question, “Brother Pepito?” I said, “yes” for I did not recognize the young man. After introducing himself as Charles Evangelista from Jolo who had been to the BMC convention in Kidapawan, we started sharing about our experiences as BMCians until Br. George and I embarked into the train.

 

Does this resonate to your experience as BMCian/SMCian or as alumnus of the club? If so, welcome to this website.

 

But this is not limited to the SMCians alone… as you see, this idea emerged again when I got involved in formation and vocation last summer workshop. For aside from being SMCian, this has a lot to do with those who had experienced the Marist education and has that “longing for more” and for those young people who “longed for something more and yet…” well, should we say, intimate longing for God… and interested to become a Marist Brother.

 

Go to http://www.champagnat.org, that is, if you are interested to know more about Marcellin, and anything about the Marist Brothers: history, mission, etc., throughout the world. I would like to invite you as well to visit http://magopdavao.blog.com. At this moment, I am here in Davao joining other Brothers from different countries preparing for the Mission in Asia. From time to time, we will be posting materials which may quench that “longing for more” little by little, but, this could only be done if you tell us what you long for.

 

For those young men who are interested to know the Marist Brothers or wanted to become one, there is one place reserved for you on the page…. Go to vocations, or see or write the Vocation Director (national/local or see any Marist Brother near you), or contact Marcellink (he will be of service to you). Or, if you feel called to become a priest or Religious Sister or Brother but have not decided yet, you are invited to write us. This site hopes to reach out to you. After all, SMC Club is a vocation club.

 

This site is launched today, August 15, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: a special feast for us because for Marists, like Marcellin, Mary played a special role: as Ordinary Resource, model and inspiration. As Marists, we should have the same affection for her like that of Marcellin… after all, that is what Marist mean… so, we offer this work to her, as any Marist would do, so that we will not lost sight of Jesus.

 

Mary is the perfect disciple of Christ. As a disciple, she said her “Yes” at the Annunciation. Since then, Jesus became the center of her life… That made her so special and yet so ordinary… For in following Jesus, she went through struggles and pains, joys and laughter. Is this not a common experience of all? But the difference is…. Maybe… and maybe the only difference is that she was so focused to Jesus. And even after Jesus ascended into heaven, she was with the early Church to share the story of and about Jesus… to inspire those who were persecuted and challenged in their faith to Jesus. In a word, she was the model and inspiration in “making Jesus Christ known and loved.” So was she to Marcellin… so is she to us.

 

Let me share a letter with you from Marcellin to one of the first Brothers, Br. Barthelemy:

 

            Dear Brother Barthélemy and your dear fellow-worker,

 

I was very glad to hear from you and to know that you are in good health. I also know that you have many children in your school; you will consequently have many copies of your virtues, because the children will model themselves on you, and will certainly follow your example.

 

What a wonderful and sublime occupation you have! You are constantly among the very people with whom Jesus Christ was so delighted to be, since he expressly forbade his disciples to prevent children from coming to him. And you, dear friend, far from preventing them, are making every effort to lead them to him. What a reception you will have in your turn, from this divine and generous master, who does not let even a glass of cold water go without its reward!

Tell your children that Jesus and Mary love them all very much: those who are good because they resemble Jesus Christ, who is infinitely good; those who are not yet good, because they will become so. Tell them that the Blessed Virgin also loves them, because she is the mother of all the children in our schools. And tell them that I love them very much too; and that I never once say Mass without thinking of you and your dear children.

How happy I would be if I could be a teacher, and devote myself even more directly to educating these impressionable children!

Things are going fairly well in all the other establishments.
Pray for me and for everyone here.

I have the honor to be your very devoted father in Jesus and Mary,

Champagnat

Before I end this message, I would like to acknowledge the BMCian who gave the name to the first and last newsletter, Marcellink, published in 1998. I was the national coordinator when this young man proposed this newsletter. You gave the name to this site. And the idea of creating this was introduced by Dasoy about seven years ago. He even offered to help us on this. But it was only when Br. Vince sent me his personal website last June that I remembered I need his skill and expertise to finally start the website. The site first appeared last July 24 with the message: LAUNCHING SOON! UNDER COPNSTRUCTION! FOR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT US! And from then on, Br. Vince and I started working on this. He was in MAPAC, Marikina and I was in Mission Ad Gentes, Davao City….. It was on June 26 that I got the permission from Br. Dem, the present SMC national coordinator, to create the site. With everything set, here is it!

 

Hop in! Let us keep the Marist Spirit alive!

 

In JMJChampagnat,

Br. Pepito L. Mahong, FMS

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